“It Is Well With My Soul”

Bulletins

Michael Hickox
03/10/24 - General

2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

These three verses show Paul’s mindset toward the sufferings he endured as a Christian. No matter how difficult his life on earth was, the glory he brought to God and the promises of an eternity in God’s direct presence made everything worth it.

Paul’s attitude sets a good example for us to follow when facing any hardships. God desires His children to be so focused on Him that when things are tough, we will faithfully obey Him with endurance, contentment, and even a sense of joy (Heb. 12:1; Phil. 4:11,4).

This type of attitude brings to mind the hymn It Is Well With My Soul. The words to the hymn were written by Horatio Spafford shortly after the death of his four daughters. The message of the song is that no matter how hard our temporal circumstances are, life is OK as long as we are right with God. Notice the second verse of the song: Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

While Paul provides a positive example of this attitude, the exodus generation of Israel, whose murmuring we are warned not to imitate (1 Cor. 10:10), responded to trials very differently. God fulfilled His promise to lead them out of bondage (Exod. 12:41; Gen. 15:13-14). Though they saw the “great work” He did in defeating the Egyptians (Exod. 14:31), Israel lacked gratitude for and trust in God. They constantly murmured against Him, saying it would have been better to stay in Egypt (Exod. 16:2-3; 17:2-3; Num. 14:1-3).

The difference between this murmuring and an attitude like Paul’s is faith in the Lord. Unspeakable joy (1 Pet. 1:8), hope (Heb. 6:19), and peace that surpasses understanding (Phil. 4:6-7) are possible even in the midst of sorrows for those who are spiritually-minded.

This mindset enabled Paul to write (while in prison), “Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it” (Phil. 4:11; cf. v. 12-13). As far as Paul knew, the next day could bring sorer trials than he had ever faced. Yet, Paul was content knowing that He had been saved from sin through Christ (Eph. 1:7).

Whatever earthly “state” we are in, the righteous can say, “It is well with my soul,” and proclaim, “My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho’t! My sin not in part but the whole, Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”